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Translational animal science2020; 4(3); txaa084; doi: 10.1093/tas/txaa084

Effects of 27 mo of rotational vs. continuous grazing on horse and pasture condition.

Abstract: The objective of this study was to determine whether rotational grazing generates horse, pasture, or cost benefits over continuous grazing. The study established two replicates (1.57 ha each) of rotational (R; four grazing sections and a stress lot per replicate, where horses were fed a moderate quality grass hay at 2% of body weight when not grazing) and continuous (C) grazing systems (treatments). Twelve Standardbred mares were grazed for an overall stocking rate of 0.52 ha/horse ( = 3 in each pasture). Recommended management practices for each grazing system were followed for 27 mo including three grazing seasons. Samples were collected monthly between 0800 and 1000. Results were analyzed in SAS (V9.4) using mixed model repeated-measures analysis of covariance, chi-square tests of association, and two-sample -tests. Alpha level was set at < 0.05. The C horses were maintained on pasture for 100% of the study duration (844 d; August 1, 2014 to November 22, 2016), while R horses had access to pasture for approximately half of this time (408 ± 33 d). The average length of grazing bout per rotational grazing section during the grazing season increased numerically each year from 7.88 ± 0.76 d in 2014, 10.0 ± 0.61 d in 2015, and 10.9 ± 0.80 d in 2016. Average horse body condition score (BCS) and body fat differed by treatment, with C horses (BCS 6.3 ± 0.05, 17.9 ± 0.15% body fat) greater than R horses (BCS 5.9 ± 0.05, 16.8 ± 0.15% body fat). Both sward height and herbage mass were greater in R (11.8 ± 0.1 cm tall; 1,513 ± 41 kg/ha) than C pastures (6.9 ± 0.1 cm tall; 781 ± 35 kg/ha). The R pastures had higher proportions of vegetative and total cover, planted grasses (tall fescue and orchardgrass), and weeds but lower proportions of grass weeds (nonplanted grasses) and other (rocks, litter, bare ground, etc.) as compared with C pastures. Digestible energy, acid detergent fiber, and calcium were higher in R vs. C pastures; however, crude protein was lower in R vs. C pastures. There were no significant differences between treatments for average monthly amount of hay fed (C, 597 ± 34.1 vs. R, 659 ± 34.1 kg) or average monthly pasture maintenance cost (C, $17.55 ± 3.14 vs. R, $20.50 ± 3.14). This study is one of few replicated experiments comparing the effects of rotational and continuous grazing for horses on pasture quality, horse condition, and production costs. The results here support the recommendation of rotational grazing for production, environmental, and ecological purposes.
© The Author(s) 2020. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Society of Animal Science.
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Publication Date: 2020-06-20 PubMed ID: 32705075PubMed Central: PMC7370406DOI: 10.1093/tas/txaa084Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research investigates whether rotational grazing leads to better outcomes for horses, pastures, and cost efficiency when compared to continuous grazing. The findings suggest that rotational grazing may be beneficial for production, environmental, and ecological purposes, despite causing a decrease in body condition score and body fat in horses.

Design of the Study

  • The study was carried out using two replicates of rotational and continuous grazing systems over a period of 27 months, which included three grazing seasons. Rotational grazing involved four grazing sections and a stress lot for each replicate, with horses being fed a moderate quality grass hay at 2% of their body weight when not grazing, while continuous grazing maintained horses on pasture for 100% of the study duration.
  • The Standardbred mares, 12 in total, were grazed for an overall stocking rate of 0.52 ha/horse. Management recommendations specific to each grazing system were adhered to throughout the study.
  • The research team collected samples monthly between 0800 and 1000. The results were analyzed using several statistical techniques in SAS (V9.4), and a 95% confidence level was considered as significant.

Results of the Study

  • The duration of pasture access was approximately half for horses on the rotational system compared to those on the continuous system. The average length of the grazing bout per rotational grazing section increased each year during the study.
  • The body condition score (BCS) and body fat of horses under continuous grazing was higher than those under rotational grazing. The sward height and herbage mass were also greater in the rotational grazing pastures.
  • The pastures under rotational grazing had higher levels of vegetative and total cover, planted grasses, weeds but lower proportions of nonplanted grasses and other elements (rocks, litter, bare ground, etc.).
  • The nutritional values revealed that digestible energy, acid detergent fiber, and calcium were higher in rotational pastures, but the crude protein was higher in continuous grazing pastures.
  • There were no significant differences between the two methods in terms of the average monthly amount of hay fed or the average cost of monthly pasture maintenance.

Implications of the Study

  • This study contributes rare empirical data comparing the effects of rotational and continuous grazing for horses on a variety of measures, including pasture quality, horse condition, and production costs.
  • Despite a decrease in body condition score and body fat, the positive impacts on pasture condition and no significant increase in hay and maintenance costs support the use of rotational grazing for production, environmental, and ecological reasons.

Cite This Article

APA
Williams CA, Kenny LB, Weinert JR, Sullivan K, Meyer W, Robson MG. (2020). Effects of 27 mo of rotational vs. continuous grazing on horse and pasture condition. Transl Anim Sci, 4(3), txaa084. https://doi.org/10.1093/tas/txaa084

Publication

Translational animal science
ISSN: 2573-2102
NlmUniqueID: 101738705
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 4
Issue: 3
Pages: txaa084
PII: txaa084

Researcher Affiliations

Williams, Carey A
  • Department of Animal Science, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ.
Kenny, Laura B
  • Department of Animal Science, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ.
Weinert, Jennifer R
  • Department of Animal Science, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ.
Sullivan, Kevin
  • New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, Office of Research Analytics, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ.
Meyer, William
  • Department of Plant Biology and Pathology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ.
Robson, Mark G
  • Department of Plant Biology and Pathology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ.

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Citations

This article has been cited 8 times.
  1. Weinert-Nelson JR, Biddle AS, Sampath H, Williams CA. Fecal Microbiota, Forage Nutrients, and Metabolic Responses of Horses Grazing Warm- and Cool-Season Grass Pastures. Animals (Basel) 2023 Feb 22;13(5).
    doi: 10.3390/ani13050790pubmed: 36899650google scholar: lookup
  2. Weinert-Nelson JR, Biddle AS, Williams CA. Fecal microbiome of horses transitioning between warm-season and cool-season grass pasture within integrated rotational grazing systems. Anim Microbiome 2022 Jun 21;4(1):41.
    doi: 10.1186/s42523-022-00192-xpubmed: 35729677google scholar: lookup
  3. Weinert-Nelson JR, Meyer WA, Williams CA. Crabgrass as an equine pasture forage: impact of establishment method on yield, nutrient composition, and horse preference. Transl Anim Sci 2022 Apr;6(2):txac050.
    doi: 10.1093/tas/txac050pubmed: 35663614google scholar: lookup
  4. Weinert-Nelson JR, Meyer WA, Williams CA. Yield, nutrient composition, and horse condition in integrated crabgrass and cool-season grass rotational grazing pasture systems. Transl Anim Sci 2021 Oct;5(4):txab208.
    doi: 10.1093/tas/txab208pubmed: 34859200google scholar: lookup
  5. Insausti K, Beldarrain LR, Lavín MP, Aldai N, Mantecón ÁR, Sáez JL, Canals RM. Horse meat production in northern Spain: ecosystem services and sustainability in High Nature Value farmland. Anim Front 2021 Mar;11(2):47-54.
    doi: 10.1093/af/vfab003pubmed: 34026315google scholar: lookup
  6. Moaby I, Aitken A, Varga S. Scientific Evidence and Common Perceptions of Factors Affecting Sugar Content in Pasture Grass: Is There a Link With Pre-existing Horse-Related Experience?. Vet Med Sci 2026 Jan;12(1):e70778.
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  7. Kic P, Wohlmuthová M. The Indoor Environment at the University Equestrian Facility in the Autumn Semester: A Case Study. Animals (Basel) 2025 Nov 18;15(22).
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  8. Ross M, Proudfoot K, Campbell Nishimura E, Morabito E, Merkies K, Mitchell J, Ritter C. 'It's more emotionally based': Prince Edward Island horse owner perspectives of horse weight management. Anim Welf 2024;33:e14.
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